ventromedial hypothalamic syndrome

n. A behavior pattern caused by experimental damage to the ventromedial nucleus on both sides of the hypothalamus in which the subject animal first has an acute phase in which it becomes hyperactive and eats without control for about 24 hours. This is follwed by an active phase of overeating resulting in gross obesity, followed by a static phase in which obesity is maintained but the animal ceases to seek food, is picky about what it will eat, and will seldom work for food or endure shocks for food when hungry as will normal animals. Also called hypothalamic hyperphagia.